Characters Books

As everyone else had said, this book is fantastic. It is *extremely* difficult to find any modern fiction depicting Gwenhwyfar's sister Gwenhwyfach and I had my doubts when I saw this book. But, she is depicted wonderfully and fully and one really gets a good idea of what sort of character we're actually missing out on.
This was everything i expected it to be and far more than I could have hoped for. All of the character's voices are heard and anyone with a vague interest in the original Welsh tellings of Arthur will be veyr happy with this book. The stories are also very well self contained and anyone with an inkling of knowledge about the legends will be able to follow even if the stories are read out of order.
Medraud's story was my favorite, as Gwenhwyfach was in it, but also interesting was Luned's, as I have never read about her before. I also loved the author's note and the help for the pronunciation of names, which can be quite difficult. I also liked the style, which was clear and precise and never ehavy or domineering like so many other Arthurian retellings. I wish the book had been much longer--I would have loved to see these stories expanded upon!
Definitely a good buy for anyone looking to hear Gwenhwyfach's point of view!

This book is a must-read for fans of Arthurian legend. Beautifully written, it tells the tale from the point of view of several characters in the story that have been overlooked or forgotten in other tellings of this tale. The authentic descriptions of early life on the British isles add a lot of interest to this intricately written and gritty tale.

As someone who has studied and read Arthurian Legend quite a bit, I thought that I could no longer be surprised by any new retelling of the tale. This book proved me wrong! By telling the tale through the points of view of secondary characters like Nimue and long time antagonists like Medraud (Mordred), Thomson weaves an exciting new version of a famaliar story. However, my favorite part was her choice to include two fascinating characters that were dropped from the Arthurian Tales most people are famaliar with today and buried for years in Welsh Lore. These two are Luned, a faithful lady in waiting to Morgan Le Fay's also forgotten sister, Elen, and Gwenhwyfach, Gwenhywfar's crafty, but abused sister. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about these two characters who added whole new dimensions to the story. I can't recommend this book enough to fans of the Arthurian legend looking for a twist or just anyone looking for an entertaining tale.

I can't say enough wonderful things about this book. The lyricism, the intricately crafted structure, the character insight...it puts every single other Arthurian book I've read, from The Once and Future King to The Mists of Avalon to hosts of lesser-known novels, to shame.

From the very first sentences you're drawn in by the vivid, almost poetic prose: "I could wander all day along her banks and she would always lie there, like a silver string behind me, to lead me home in the dusk." The author blends foreshadowing, atmosphere and imagery without a single wasted word, with sentences like "I thought he would murder like a saint prays, and with the same hope of blessing," and "On the edge of the surf, in the white foam, in the place that is neither land nor water, he was killed by his uncle's spear and his blood flowed into the waves."

The plots are also much more compelling and carefully crafted than those of most other Arthurian novels. It's fascinating to see these well-known events through the eyes of characters who usually don't get a voice, such as Merlin/Myrddin's love Nimue, Mordred/Medraud, who is almost always portrayed as hate-filled villain and is never allowed to show why he might resent his father, and lady-in-waiting Gwenhwyfach, who dropped out of sight in modern versions altogether. When you're reading about those familiar events, you suddenly see a new interpretation and a new motivation for those events; on top of that, the author imagines new events that somehow make the legends even more real. So that's why Nimue turned on Myrddin, you say, or Oh, that's how Owain/Lancelot wound up married to Elen/Elaine. Not a detail is wasted or out of place -- everything that happens matters later in the story, or in another narrator's story.

The book leaves you feeling as if you've finally read the real version of the King Arthur legend. The details of the Welsh setting are carefully researched and woven in so skillfully that you feel you're there, not just reading about it; the motivations of the characters are so well explored and convincingly told that you finally understand why characters like Nimue, Morgan and Medraud did the things for which they have been vilified by later writers who could only manage one-dimensional, black-and-white versions of the tales. It says something that to this day, when I'm remembering or talking about the King Arthur legend, I find myself thinking of the events in this book as "canon" -- that's how strong an impression it left on me.

I do not know where to begin praising this book. One indication is a list of the books I was reading and enjoying that I set aside once I picked up The Dragon's Son: The Lord of the Rings; The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm; Charlotte's Web; The Wind Singer; The Bridge to Terabithia. All enjoyable or important, but I could not seem to focus on them until I had finished The Dragon's Son. The book does a spectacular job of explaining the motivations behind characters' actions, and it creates characters whom you never want to let go of and whose stories stay with you for days after reading the book. Thomson has a deep, humanistic sympathy for all of the four complex, damaged characters who serve as narrator for the book in turns. She is able to make you ache for the characters and their plights, even as they make terrible choices and unleash evil and havoc. [Spoiler ahead.] When Medraud's lover asks him how many people he is willing to kill to get his father to notice him, a whole life that hasn't been explored elsewhere springs into being. It makes other versions' renderings of these characters seem so naïve and uninteresting. [End spoiler.] The book brims with striking images. The battle scenes are particularly well-choreographed, exciting, and always clear. Geographical and historical detail are never ladled on, but glanced tastefully and tantalizingly in passing (J.R.R. Tolkien could have learned something from this book). There is a perfect balance in the time spent on describing physical things and settings against the time spent on describing characters' inner thoughts. The book is studded with examples of incisive turns of phrase, from a description of a handsome bard's crooked, disarming smile, to a description of a frown, like that of a priest at a Midsummer festival. And all of it achieved not through gussied language, but through simple, athletic prose. A real achievement. Also, the book's structure is quite skillful. It is told in four interlocking stories, with main characters glimpsing each other as side characters in multiple refractions. The effect is a wonderful feeling of non-linearity and involvement in the dynamic lives of these characters. You feel like you're ducking in and out of rooms in a bustling house, and peering into rooms through front-doors, then through peep-holes. Couple other things that make this book unique. First, it is one of the rare books that manages to depict lovers convincingly. You are never told that a character is sexy or alluring or charismatic, you're given vivid examples that arouse the reaction. Second, the book's feminism is subtlely and maturely incorporated. The book operates on a personal level, then on a political level, and never feels polemical or revisionist or didactic. I realize now that I've written this reader review for adult readers, although this is marketed as children's lit. For parents, educators, or kids, let me just say that any kid who likes Greek mythology (and all the neatest kids in every generation in every country all love Greek mythology), will like The Dragon's Son. It has exciting plot, it has really interesting characters, it has thrilling battles. And it also has a good deal of heart and guts to it that make it transcend mere entertainment. I would say that Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief and The Queen of Attolia and Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass are its closest analogs and peers, and that's meant as very high praise. Highly recommended to all intelligent readers.

Also recommended: The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman

I became acquainted with author Jon Talton by reading his "Arizona Dreams". I was so entranced by that tale that I decided to read his other novels, and just finished "Dry Heat". His protagonist, David Mapstone (history-professor-turned deputy) is an interesting and complex character, as is his detective girlfriend-turned wife, Lindsey. I find the Phoenix, Arizona setting intriguing because like most long-term natives of Western towns (in my case, Denver), Mapstone laments the inevitable changes that have occured the past few decades that has turned "his" city from a quaint, charming rural town to a fast-paced, cold, and dangerous metropolitan area. Talton poignantly evokes the New West ambience while keeping readers engrossed in a taut mystery that contains unexpected plot twists. A great read

With Dry Heat, his third David Mapstone novel, Jon Talton has joined the ranks of the best of detective novelists. His first two are excellent reads, but in this one, Talton seems to have reached a new level of maturity in his writing. The somewhat complicated plot is neatly woven together by Talton as detective David Mapstone delves into the dusty archives of the old county courthouse to discover the identity of a homeless man, whose body is found in an abandoned pool in an undesirable neighborhood. Mapstone's wife, who has used her considerable computer skills to crack the Russian Mafia, finds her own life in danger, and Mapstone must try to protect her, while continuing to investigate the death of the homeless man. Talton deftly manages the interweaving plots, describing the research skills of former professor, Mapstone, displaying the investigator's dedication to seeking truth, and revealing his genuine and deep love for Lindsey. Talton knows Phoenix and Arizona and has an obvious love for the city, yet is painfully aware of its problems and particularly of the sprawl that has changed this city so drastically in the past several decades.
Anyone who has lived in or visited Phoenix will enjoy the local color, incuding his descriptions of the fabulous sunsets,and also of the violence of wind storms. But those who have never been there will also enjoy an excellent read. I found this book to be a real page turner and look forward to more from this author.

Dry Heat, just as did his previous two excellent books, perfectly evokes the essence of the present and older Phoenix. Of course being a crime novel there is an over emphasis on the seedy parts of the city. The chief protagonist is a historian and the author would seem to be one also, or at least an excellent researcher. Very fast read, but entirely too short. Also, the author doesn't write often enough. Not to be missed.

David Mapstone and his wife Lindsay are a delightful pair of crime solvers: David because he really doesn't want to be but can't refuse the order of the Sheriff to work a long-dead case, and Lindsay because her life is in serious jeopardy if they don't solve the case soon. It's also great to read about a couple that are not romanticized but are definitely committed to each other.
The reason these books are so appealing is that the author Jon Talton makes such wonderful, insightful and downright derogatory comments about Phoenix that are SO true! It is a city without a soul. Talton's style is clean, clear, and the plots are complex enough to keep the reader going.

"'It's a new dark age," he said at one point. "Nobody reads anymore. People are losing the ability to think. Television has destroyed us. I'm glad I won't live to see the worst of it.'" (Dry Heat, Page 73)

History and the dead, victims of crime or otherwise, have been constant themes of this enjoyable series. So too has been the price of progress and resulting urban sprawl and what that has done to Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area. Those themes continue in this third novel of the series, which also deals with modern day realities of the Russian Mafia and terrorism.

In 1948 the body of FBI Agent John Pilgrim was found floating in a canal outside what was then small city of Phoenix, Arizona. Over 200 agents spent more than two months working the case before it was ruled a suicide and buried by FBI management. Now, an elderly homeless man has been found dead, floating in a swimming pool, at approximately the same location. Homeless people die everyday across this country and that isn't why the media are circling above by helicopter or clogging the neighborhood streets below with satellite trucks. Word is already out that the dead homeless man had the dead agent's badge. A badge that vanished in 1948 and never found, was sewn inside the dead man's coat.

An interagency taskforce is formed and launches an investigation with all the political backstabbing and power plays that go along with such things. Assigned to the case, Deputy Sheriff David Mapstone should be focused entirely at the matter at hand but he can't focus that well. Recently married to Deputy Lindsey, he knows how lucky he is and is reminded thanks to the death of a good friend and mentor, how fragile life is. When the Russian Mafia begins to retaliate for the success of Lindsey's team that stopped dead a multi million dollar fraud operation using stolen credit card identities, both Lindsey and David are forced to go into hiding. Hiding is something that neither one is good at, especially with Mapstone pushed to solve his own case.

Containing twists and at times intense action, this novel continues the overall character story arc begun in the first novel "Concrete Desert." Enjoyable as the others, this novel does have more of a melancholy feel to it. Without giving too much away it is safe to say that some decisions for the future have to be made and the ending has enough wiggle room that it can be interpreted in two different ways.

Not to say both cases aren't satisfactorily resolved, because they are. While the Russian Mafia case is resolved pretty much as expected, the Pilgrim case has one final twist at the end that is shocking in its simplicity. Little new is added to the characters as the novel has Mapstone contemplating not only the past of Phoenix and what progress has done to the city in the last fifty plus years, but his own checkered and complex past and recent developments. Some of this ground has been covered before in "Concrete Desert" and "Camelback Falls" but is more of a constant presence in this novel. While containing plenty of action and complex cases, this book is a more introspective work and as such has a more melancholy feel than the previous two.

However, do not let that deter you from another excellent book in the series. As always, Jon Talton delivers a read full of interesting characters, vivid descriptive settings, and a pair of complex cases. The result is another twisting tale of the past and present and one very good book.


Dry Heat (A David Mapstone Mystery)
By Jon Talton
Thomas Dunne Books
www.minotaurbooks.com
ISBN 0-312-33385-4
Hardback
$22.95 US
$32.95 Canada

Earlier Books in the series are "Camelback Falls" and "
Concrete Desert." Because of the overriding story arcs, I would strongly suggest that they be read in order.


Kevin R. Tipple © 2005

Duane Barnharts Cartooning Basics has just been so much fun for my kids ages 12, 10, and 7. Using the Books step-by-step guidelines to cartooning they have created some of the most fabulous characters and cartoon strips. Not only is it great from a drawing perspective, but it also has some fun and interesting facts about the history of cartooning. Love this book!!!

'Cartooning Basics' is a wonderful tool for young aspiring cartoonists. No. 2 illustrates how to create friendly, familiar characters from simple shapes, which every child can relate to (ie circles, ovals, squares, triangles, etc.). Art teachers can gain lesson ideas that are effective and easy to implement. This is a great buy and a must read for any aspiring cartoonist, art teacher and student alike. Duane and Angie have created a fun, creative, well-illustrated tool in 'Cartooning Basics'.

Great how-to book, lots of practice exercises. The most helpful, how-to book I've read so far, and I've got a ton of them. Wish I'd found this one sooner!

'Cartooning Basics' is a wonderful tool for young aspiring cartoonists. No. 2 illustrates how to create friendly, familiar characters from simple shapes, which every child can relate to (ie circles, ovals, squares, triangles, etc.). Art teachers can gain lesson ideas that are effective and easy to implement. This is a great buy and a must read for any aspiring cartoonist, art teacher and student alike. Duane and Angie have created a fun, creative, well-illustrated tool in 'Cartooning Basics'.

This book has helped me learn to cartoon, and now, I teach it to my 2nd grade class!

It came on time , that's great ! It does everything it says it's going to do and helps you learn fast! I 've had no problems with shipping or the product itself!

I have been using the Easy Kana Workbook in conjunction with Remembering the Kana by James Heisig to learn both hiragana and katakana. Remembering the Kana gave me ways to easily remember the symbols and this book gave me the means to get a lot of practice. Not only is there practice with the symbols, but also with writing words and sentences both vertically and horizontally. The book also includes exceptions for when symbols should be used for different sounds. Finally, there is further opportunity to get practice transcribing between romanji to hiragana/katakana as well as from hiragana/katakana to romanji. Within a one month period I have become very comfortable with hiragana and am well on my way to doing the same with katakana. These two books are all you need.

Simply put, if you get this book and work through it, you will learn Kana.

I'm a busy guy and have had the book for a little over a month. I learned hiragana and am halfway through katakana. No flash cards neccesary, just write the characters over and over.

The reading exercises are especially excellent and will have your eyes tuned to reading speedily in no time.

A+.

This is a great book! Many people who learn the Kana. Think that once they memorize all the characters. They can fully read the Kana. Which is wrong!!!! This is why I love this book. It teaches kana grammar with kana writing, and has plenty of exerices.So by the end of the book you won't forget anything. I really recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn kana.
I never thought I could read and write kana, until I bought this book. Now it's off to kanji :(.

Also, don't be afraid of kana grammar. It is 100 times easier than english grammar.

Primarily, this book teaches the proper way to write hiragana and katakana. It excels at this because it gets you to practice, practice, practice and practice some more. Personally, I made photocopies of all the practice pages so I could more easily practice.

Secondarily, it covers basic pronunciation, reading, and writing sentances. Just the basics, concepts are explained simply and it provides a good platform for further study. I'm certain the authors intended readers to study other books for these skills.

Its one minor drawback is not including info on why machine-made characters sometimes look significantly different than hand-written characters.

I have read every Elric novel. I own 500 kilos of fantasy paperbacks. This book brought me as much joy, inspiration and satisfaction as any book I have ever read. Elric was the first "evil" hero. Every fantasy writer has taken a peice of elric to produce their characters. Drizt Do'urden is a shadow of Elric. Raistlen is almost an exact copy of Elric. Darth vader's sinister life, dependence on technology/sorcery and eventual noble self sacrifice are in mimicry of Elric. In this book so many authors who wanted to write Elric stories, some who had made great fame and fortune copying Moorcock, were given licence to write as they pleased. Every short story in the book is its authors best work because as they write about their own dark heros in their own novels they are thinking about Elric. My highest praise: I want a sequel.. or two... or ten... a series published monthly untill I am old and grey.

I highly enjoyed this book, the dark and gothic theme created a great anti-hero in my opinion. It took a bit of time to get into the "setting" of the book, but once I did I was able to immerse myself in the story and thoroughly enjoy it.

Elric, last Prince of Melnibone. Elric makes you feel that your right there with him and drawing the from the dreaded runsword Stormbringer, all his pain,sorrow,grief you feel it all. This pale,weak being could be any of us, and yet it`s his weakness that gives him the strainth to weld such enormus power and to control the uncontrolable. Elric will make you cry, make you feel that you could defeat the Lords of Chaos your self and forever will you bare some of his burden. Your life will never be the same, the way you look at things such as the ocean will change and you`ll catch yourself try to summon the water element himself. For such a being to exist in your mind alone is enough.

Elric of Melnibone' represents a departure from the era of Tarzan and Conan, giving people a dark prince for a protagonist. This book helps put together a group of stories written for the first time by other authors and show how dynamic Michael Moorcock's Elric really is.

This is the first of the Elric saga Ive read. I found it most exhilirating. The dark antihero and his struggle for his humanity is almost sorrowful. His sword is legendary amonst who has lived to tell about it. Not many have though. Elric is an outcast among his people.It is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

It's essential for any chick who is drawn to the darker things in life to own at least one Emily item but once you enter her bizarre world it's hard to go back. I received both "Emily's Book Of Strange" along with the 2004 calendar for my birthday and those were a perfect introduction to this quiet (but nowhere near shy) cat-luvin' Goth grrl who's preferred favorite color is everything black...or red. Her attitude is anything but cheery but sometimes us open-minded people have to shield ourselves from the ones that are afraid to venture outside the box and to explore what's beyond the edges. I could be wrong but I believe her image is a symbol of encouraging individuality. Or, in other words, to think for yourself without following the crowd by listening and dressing according to what's considered "normal".

There's not a lot of text within these pages (there's often a bare minimum of two words) but the illustrations by Rob Reger and Buzz Parker are creatively "strange" and pure (or is that tainted?) candy for the eyes.

I especially enjoy perusing this on cold, rainy days.

Hey there, my name is Emily, that's not why I love Emily The Strange. I am also 12 years old, but 2 years ago, thanks to someone special, I got into Emily stuff. My friend Ashley, well, her big sister showed me some of her Emily stuff, I really liked Emily then, she told me to look out for some Emily the Strange stuff and that it's probably right up my alley. And she's right, 2 years later, I'm an Emily the strange freak! I collect all the cards, I 've got tons of stuff, actually, I think that's all the stuff I have, Emily the Strange stuff. Maybe a few hello kitty stuff, but nothing else. I went onto hot topic, and spent some of my birthday money on Emily the Strange stuff, I have a really nice bed spread and pillow cases that match. Anyway, about the book, I love every single thing about it. It really inspires me. I like the way Emily can speak cat, I like the plan with the cats to attack the dog, I'm an animal lover, and I would never hurt one, I wouldn't hurt someone either. I like the way in one of the pages it says hell-o-kitty, you have to see that. I have 2 cats, who are very friendly, I have my own posse. This book is a must have, I do recommend the Emily's good nightmares book, I only have 2 of Emily's books, I'm looking out for the other one. I know Emily's morose code all by heart, so does my friend Ashley, we do all sorts of letters to each other with the morose code, that way, no one knows what it says but us!But this book is really cool, I like that it has such big, and discriptive pictures, but with such little words, I like that it's simple. A good item for a strange collection, like mine!
Now, get strange, or get lost!
Emily the strange, the stranger!

I actually had never heard of the Emily books, untill my friend showed me her autographed copy of this book & I fell in love, my copy is on the way via mail, this book has neat pictures with very cool secret writing on each page. A fun book for anyone.

I really like the Emily's Secret Book of Strange because it has really cool pictures. Although, it doesn't really have that many words in it either but the pictures are amazing and fun to look at. the secret messeges that are on the pages are really cool, but you have to look closely to see them. If you like to look at a lot of pictures, Emily's Book of the strange has a lot of them.

Emily is an intelligent little black and white child who started out as a small internet idea but spawned into a large merchandise line and nows the chance to see for yourself why this little goth girl is so popular. With wit, sarcasm, insight, and her four dangerous cats, Emily will show you the dark side of life that has already been favored by many of us. I love the awesome cover, the illustrations and each page in the book has many secret codes and messages for you to find. I've had this book for months and theres still things i find myself noticing for the very first time! Rock on Emily!

I'm "ghost-writing" this review for my 9 year old daughter:
"I LOVED this book and I think its really funny when Geronimo misses four good vacations (the beach, the mountains, an adventure, and Egypt) and when he got stuck in a half a cheese slice hotel! I read all the Geronimo Stilton books in my school and local library I can find and I have to say I can't choose a favorite because they are all so good!!"

My daughter is 9 going on 10 and is tearing through all the Stiltons, including this one. We love them.

This was a Christmas gift for my niece. I read another book in this series and enjoyed it.

The big G Geronimo has done it again with a great adventure story, Attack of the Bandit Cats. The illustrator of Attack of the Bandit Cats is Matt Wolf. Can't imagine it? Well believe it the writer of a book with a mouse had a guy with wolf in his name illustrate. Also captured by cats was probably Geronimo, Thea, Trap, and Benjamin's the five main mice worst nightmare.

Thea, Benjamin, and Trap convince Geronimo Stilton to go with them to Silver Island,but instead they get captured by cat bandits. The bandit cats want to cook Geronimo and his friends so they can eat them for dinner. They manage to set a fire and scare the cats so bad that they forget that the ship was made of metal and they still jump off their ship. Geronimo, Thea, Benjamin, and Trap discover the treasure room were they find the first quarter to mouse kind. Then they become famous, but they don't keep all the money.

This book is great and I can't believe this book wasn't out already when I was born. It has great illustration with fancy words. Incredible gold or even platinum sentence fluency.[She sounded as if her tail was stuck in slobbertooths high speed blender!]This book is out of this world and can't be beat,five star not three or four five!

It all started when Trap invited Geronimo to solve a mystery on Pirate Island. So they used this hot air balloon. Before long, they realize that they are being shot by...CATS!

Have you read a book lately that you want to tell everyone because of the life-changing effect on your life, business and spiritual development? If you answer `no', I encourage you to read `The Fear Factor' by Akeem Shomade. If `yes' consider going for double portion by reading this timely book! The Fear Factor is a book of life to be embraced and cherished. It is useful for personal, professional and spiritual development. The type of book you want to occupy a prominent position in your library; the type you want to recommend to your book clubs and local libraries. Keep it safe because it is useful for regular reference. Counsellors, People-helpers, Encouragers, Ministries, Bookstores, Libraries, and Book Clubs - take special note as the fear terminator is here! Buy, Read and apply the principles and learning points to your life and use it to help others. Excellent book

"The fear factor" ou "L'effet de la peur" est un livre d'actualité, - et Dieu seul sait à quel point - car au moment où je réfléchis sur ce thème, Londres vient d'être attaqué par des groupes extrémistes. La peur est là et nous environne depuis les temps de la création. D'ailleurs n'est-ce pas Adam le premier homme qui a rétorqué à l'Eternel "j'ai eu peur et je suis allé me cacher. Nous voyons ici que 'l'effet de peur' existe depuis les temps de la crétion et qu'elle n'a pas cessé de hanter le coeur humain. C'est le sujet que Akeem Shomade décortique dans son livre. Rien ne manque depuis l'origine de la peur, la peur de Dieu, la peur d'échouer, la peur de la mort, la peur des nouvelles choses, la peur de l'homme, jusqu'à la peur d'aimer. Akeem a consacré un chapitre sur chacun de ces topics. Non seulement il a décortiqué l'effet de la peur mais il a aussi donné des solutions pratiques pour nous aider à combattre ce vieil ennemie qu'est la peur.

L'auteur dit de lui-même qu'il a écrit ce livre du point de vue du conseiller spirituel. Nul doute que son livre est le fruit d'années d'expériences sur le sujet de la peur chez le chrétien. Il est par conséquent qualifié pour adresser le problème de la peur et nous apporter une réponse 'pleine de grâce', fruit de ces années de travail, de recherche, et d'aide divine. Il a d'ailleurs lui-même été confronté avec 'l'effet de la peur' quand il réalisa qu' il ne pourra pas terminer d'écrire ce livre sans sentir les conséquences financières graves pour lui et toute sa famille. Preuve que 'La Peur' et toutes ses ramifications, -c'est à dire panique, crainte, doute etc....sont capable de surgir à tout instant. Mais comme le dit Akeem Shomade, grâce à Dieu et à sa parole nous pouvons nous assurer de la victoire sur 'La Peur'.

Le livre est facile à lire car il est écrit dans un language qui est accessible à 'tout public'. D'ailleurs, N'est-ce pas toutes les couches de société qui font face à 'l'effet de la peur'. Le livre aussi nous rappelle, comme illustration, ces personnages bibliques qui ont confronté la peur et qui ont triomphé d'elle. La parole de Dieu est toujours référée dans le livre et le Saint Esprit est plus que jamais présent non seulement pour nous aider à expérimenter une victoire totale sur toute la puissance de 'La Peur' et tous ces dérivés mais aussi pour nous ramener à la seule 'Peur' que Dieu veut qu'on éprouve c'est à dire comme le dit le livre des Proverbes: ' la crainte / la peur de l'Eternel est le commencement de la sagesse...'.

En attendant que la traduction française de ce livre que j'ai lu en anglais soit complétée, j'ai décidé d'écrire mes impressions, pour le lecteur français pour exprimer non seulement ma satisfaction de lire un livre d'actualité mais pour assurer de l'enrichissement que j'ai reçu personnellement. Vraiment je peux dire que c'est un livre que je considère de prime valeur pour les chrétiens de tous âges et milieux sociaux. Car il aborde ce sujet de manière exhaustive. Il n'y a pas d'apriori étant donné l'étendue des ramifications psychologiques que la peur implique telle que: la depression, le doute, la hantise de l'échec et même du succèss. Il est très pratique et il inspirera le lecteur qui est continuellement confronté de près comme de loin à 'l'effet de la peur' à enfin vivre libre comme Dieu le désire.
Maguy SACRAMENTO
B. A Religious Studies PGCE - Teacher of French
and Religious Studies Kent - UK

Against the backdrop of global terror, ozone layer depletion, economic downturn, upsurge of divorce, and other hard-hitting societal ills that put people under a lot of pressure, this is a book whose time has come.

The author, Akeem Shomade, obviously did his homework well.
He not only analyzes the problem of fear in its prevailing forms but most importantly offers a Bible-based solution in an easy to understand way. He then goes on to encourage his readers to apply the solution, thus making his a book that is not just "for the reading" but also "for the doing".

Having being involved with books for about two decades, as an avid reader, reviewer, editor, author, bookstore proprietor, and organizer of Mid-Western Christian Book Fair, I know a good book when I see one. Here is a good book.

Anyone battling with fear of death, fear of job loss, fear of divorce, fear of rejection, fear of failure and even fear of fear itself, will find Akeem Shomade's The Factor Factor a very helpful resource.

Interestingly, it encourages one type of fear - the fear of God, which Proverbs 8:13 says is hatred of sin.

El trabajo sobresaliente con el ánimo, enseñando y para aconsejar. Un debe titular para su estante del libro. Si usted no sufre de 'el temor' obtiene este libro para ayudar los otros. You÷Æ pronto descubre que es más que un libro acerca del temor sino un libro de la vida escrita de un corazón que cuida para ayudar a poner a lectores en el camino al éxito sin cualquier barrera. ¡Tema no - LO COMPRA AHORA!

Outstanding work with encouragement, teaching and counseling. A must title for your book shelf. If you do not suffer from 'fear' get this book to help others. You'd soon discover that it's more than a book about fear but rather a book of life written from a caring heart to help put readers on the road to success without any barrier. Fear Not - BUY IT NOW!!

Fields of Gold was extremely good, I love how it picks up exactly where Indigo Waters left off, and goes on from there. My favorite characters by far is David Youngblood and Camille Poullson, and I love how they are brought together in these books!!

At last, thoughtful writing with an engaging plot! And just when I thought Christian romance was doomed to rehash the same old story until the second coming. This book gripped my attention and I found myself involved with characters who are believable, multi-dimensional, and interesting! I love the inclusion of "misfit" people, unusual in the genre. These images were subtle but persistent in pointing to the theology of ourselves as maimed or deformed in our sinful nature. Bravo for a great read!

this is a seriously good book. I couldn't put it down. This is the first book I've read by Lisa Sampson. It sure was a big introduction. She is an amazing author who makes the characters real for the reader.

Lisa Samsonis one of my MOST favoriteAuthors. Not only is "Fields of Gold" a wonderful book, the Series, "Shades of Eternity" is great. I love how she creates people of serious physical flaws and then brings along someone who sees their heart (rather than the flaw) and falls deeply in love with them. I love her other series, The Highlanders and The Abbey as well. I'm partial to Historicals, but I also like very much "The Moment I Saw You" and "The Church Ladies." I highly recommend this book as well as everything else she's written (that I know about. They're all keepers and re-readers for me. by Vondia Caruso

I just love Lisa Samson's writing. Each book only gets better. I can't say enough! The leading characters are human, they stubble, but always their faith gets them through. I feel my own faith grow with each novel I read of Lisa's.

This book follows a strong young woman who is inflicted with a birthmark on her face. This book teaches us that we need to look through the imperfections of people and see the person underneath. I found myself laughing, crying and rejoicing with these characters. I actually go through withdrawl after Im finished the book and can't wait for the next one! Start by reading "Indigo Waters" (book one in the series)and have "Fields of Gold" waiting by your side to start when you are finished Indigo. I promise you will not be disappointed!

Although she agreed to work with the visiting porn star, Venus Lovemotion, Tiffany's Gentleman Club headliner Sierra Lavotini expected a pain in the butt. However, she never anticipated that the ache would come from a bullet that killed Venus as it passed through her body and penetrated one of Sierra's covered cheeks.

A second homicide of a visiting superstar of the velvet circuit occurs. Panama City homicide detective John Nailor uncovers evidence that points towards Sierra's local rival, Marla as the killer. Although she cannot stand Marla, who is a bigger pain to her butt than a bullet, Sierra decides her peer is too stupid to have pulled off the two murders. Sierra decides to assist John, hoping to also land him in her bed, during the intermission of solving the case.

The third Lavotini mystery (see MIRACLE STRIP and DRAG STRIP) is a very humorous, satirical work that strips bare the essence of the amateur sleuth sub-genre. The story line starts off with an amusing shot in the dark and continues its funny plot until the tale is finished. However, don't be fooled by the droll plot, the murder investigation is well written and the support cast (especially Sierra's investigative aides) brings the Florida resort town to life. John is a wonderful cop, but when this tale is stripped to the bone, like the previous two novels, the headliner remains Sierra.

Harriet Klausner

Sierra Lavotini is back and the story is even better than ever. Someone is targeting the dancers at the Tiffany Gentlemen's Club in Panama City. At first the police think that Sierra's nemesis, Marla, is trying to stop the competition by killing Venus Lovemotion and Frosty Licks. Sierra is not convinced that even though she hates Marla's guts she does not think that she is responsible and will do her best to find out.

This book is even more fun and the author provides more information about Sierra mainly why she moved from Philadelphia to work at Panama City. In DRAG STRIP we met one of Sierra's four brothers and here we meet another brother. He helps Sierra work the case by pretending to be Little Moose Lavotini, a well-known mobster. As far as Sierra knows she has no relation to Moose Lavotini but she uses this `familial' connection to help her control her boss, Vincent Gambuzzo, and to put fear at the person she believes to be the killer. She provides a unique touch to her investigation and at the same time helps her police boyfriend, Detective John Nailor. The book is filled with many laugh out loud moments and provides a nice twist at the end of this book. STRIP POKER is going to be a lot of fun.

In FILM STRIP, Nancy Bartholomew continues a winning streak with exotic dancer, Sierra Lavotini's amateur murder investigation. And this latest venture is a real pain. Literally. Poor Sierra. All she wants is for the Tiffany club to rake in the cash in order to stay afloat, thereby ensuring her financial security. Doesn't look like it's going to happen, though, as one by one the invited guest dancers are picked off. Much to Sierra's chagrin, the shooter's aim on one occasion is a bit off and Sierra ends up with a huge pain in the ----- well, you'll have to read the book. Sierra's brother, Francis, arrives to help his sister stay out harm's way and ends up in a position he'd never even dreamed of.

The author brings in all the characters we've come to know and love: Raydean and Pat, Marla and Vincent, and of course, hunky police detective John Nailor. And we finally get a verbal 'glimpse' of the infamous Big Moose Lavotini.

The dialogue is fast and witty, the characters quirky and interesting, and the love scenes are--whoa!--hot!! What more could one ask for? I'm eagerly awaiting the next in the series, STRIP POKER.

...Since I'm writing this review, you know I believe Nancy Bartholomew's FILM STRIP works. It is another fun novel about those adult entertainers at the Tiffany in Panama City, Florida. Venus Lovemotion and Frosty Licks are two big name porn stars brought in to boost the gentlemen's club's profits. Both end up dead, and we know who finds herself struggling to solve the murder. Yes, Sierra Lavotini is on the case, and this case is loaded with fun. There is even a little fun for Sierra to share with her detective friend John Nailor. FILM STRIP is a fun read and sassy read, if you are looking for a fun and sassy read. Even Fluffy has a good time.

Nancy Bartholomew has done it again. In this third book of the Sierra Lavotini series, the action and intrigue is non-stop.

Sierra, who claims to have "family" ties, is the classy, headlining exotic dancer at The Tiffany. When a pair of visiting stippers get gunned down and her co-worker, Marla the Bomber, is arrested as the primary suspect, Sierra must spring into action to get to the bottom of the crime.

All of the regulars are back, including the crazy, yet irreplaceable, scene-stealing Raydean. Sierra's love interest with top cop John Nailor also heats up in this book, so watch out for the sparks. Bartholomew does a fantastic job of meshing all of these diverse characters together into one intersting mystery. The dialogue and scenarios are quite funny, and this humor peppers the already excellent, cohesive writing.

This is a very entertaining book, and is sure to make you laugh out loud several times, let alone, flipping the pages in a rapid motion. FILM STRIP is another excellent effort.